The Biggest Stories in American Politics This Week

From Paul Manafort’s trial to multiple presidential rallies, it’s been a busy week. Here’s what you might’ve missed (and some links if you want to read further).

President Trump called for the end of the special counsel’s investigation, even as top officials warned of Russian interference.

President Trump made a career of firing people on TV. Now, he is expressing his disappointment with Attorney General Jeff Sessions publicly through tweets, but has not uttered two key words.Published OnJuly 26, 2017CreditImage by Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Trump urged Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday to end the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, raising more questions about whether Mr. Trump has tried to obstruct the investigation.

The White House and the president’s lawyers sought to minimize any damage by arguing that the call, issued on Twitter, was an angry opinion, not an order. Mr. Trump has also sought an interview with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and his office, in an attempt to clear himself of any wrongdoing.

Yet even as Mr. Trump characterizes the investigation as a “Russian hoax,” top administration officials came forward on Thursday to assert that Russian election interference was a serious threat and to vow to prevent it.

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The financial fraud trial of Paul Manafort began this week.

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There is evidence that Paul Manafort saw the Trump campaign as a way to boost his stature and eventually gain more work for foreign clients.CreditMark Wilson/Getty Images

Prosecutors began their case this week against Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, in federal court in Alexandria, Va. They say that Mr. Manafort hid tens of millions of dollars he received for his work in Ukraine and then engaged in bank fraud when he no longer earned that income.

Mr. Manafort’s defense team made clear in their opening arguments that they intended to shift the blame to Rick Gates, Mr. Manafort’s former business partner and likely the government’s star witness.

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The administration escalated the trade war with China and contemplated more tariffs and other economic measures.

Since formal talks between Beijing and Washington fell through in May, President Trump has doubled down on his threat to punish China, saying he was prepared to impose tariffs on all Chinese imports. Beijing has promised to retaliate.CreditChinatopix, via Associated Press

The United States and Mexico are moving closer to agreement on how to rewrite important parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Talks this week, however, have excluded the pact’s third member, Canada

Mr. Trump also reiterated his threat to Congress on Monday to shut down the government this year if he did not receive sufficient funding for a wall at the southern border. His administration is also considering bypassing lawmakers and granting a $100 billion tax cut primarily to the wealthy.

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The tension between the White House and the press corps increased.

In Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, President Trump defended his hard-line stance on immigration, calling for voter ID laws and bragging about saving “Merry Christmas” as a holiday greeting.CreditDoug Mills/The New York Times

Mr. Trump publicly clashed with the publisher of The New York Times, A. G. Sulzberger, on Sunday over the president’s threats to journalism and what Mr. Sulzberger said was a misrepresentation of a private meeting between them.

While the president has always had a combative relationship with his perceived detractors — especially unfavorable news reports — it escalated this week in rallies in Florida and Pennsylvania, centering many of his attacks on the press corps.